The latest
CNN, citing sources familiar with the matter, reported that the U.S. military recently prepared a plan for a ground operation inside Iran aimed at securing the country’s enriched uranium stockpile. President Donald Trump ultimately blocked the proposal over concerns about its risks.
According to the report, Iran’s enriched uranium is spread across several key nuclear sites, including Isfahan, Natanz and Fordow, where much of it is stored in heavily fortified underground facilities.
Details
• CNN said a senior U.S. general made a secret visit to U.S. Central Command headquarters in Florida late last month to receive a briefing on the proposed operation.
• Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine also traveled to Brussels for meetings with senior NATO officials, a move sources cited as a sign that the operation was nearing political approval.
• After being briefed on the plan, Trump decided to stop it amid warnings that a ground incursion into Iran could trigger a major Iranian response and destabilize the global economy.
• Trump was also concerned about the possibility of significant American casualties during the mission.
• The discussions took place as Trump repeatedly stated that the United States and Iran were close to reaching an agreement on the nuclear issue and maritime security in the Gulf.
• A source familiar with the uranium-seizure proposal told CNN that the operation carried “significant risks,” adding that Trump’s decision not to authorize it was not surprising.
• According to the network, U.S. intelligence agencies were also assessing possible Iranian retaliation scenarios if negotiations collapsed, including the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and Houthi efforts to disrupt shipping through the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
• Recent reports indicate that Washington and Tehran are nearing a broader agreement that would also address the future of Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile.
• A senior U.S. administration official said the two sides had reached an understanding on the destruction or removal of enriched nuclear material. Under the proposed arrangement, the United States would take custody of those materials.
• An Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson also acknowledged progress in the talks, saying both sides were working on the final draft while internal consultations continue before a final decision is made.
What to watch
If a U.S.-Iran agreement is signed in the coming days, it could resolve one of the most sensitive issues in the nuclear dispute. It may also reveal how close Washington came to considering military options before shifting toward a diplomatic settlement.
